Introduction

The Fuji Finepix X10 is an advanced compact digital camera with a mechanically linked 4X wide-angle optical zoom lens. Its features include full manual-controls with manual-focus and custom white-balance. The X10 is designed for advanced users with dual control-dials and a good number of direct controls.

The Fuji X10 features an EXR CMOS sensor which operates in 3 modes to capture 12 megapixels High-Resolution images, 6 MP Low-Noise images or 6 MP Expanded Dynamic Range images. The sensor is paired with a bright Fujinon lens having F/2 - 2.8 maximum aperture and 28-112mm equivalent focal-length. A hot-shoe and an optical viewfinder round off its professional features.

This detailed digital camera review takes a close look at the Fuji Finepix X10 in terms of features, ergonomics, usability, image quality and performance.

Fuji Finepix X10 Key Features

Sensor

Fuji EXR CMOS sensor

High-Resolution, Low-Noise, Dynamic-Range priority modes

JPEG, RAW or JPEG+RAW Output

1920x1080 @ 30 FPS 16:9 HD Video

640x480 @ 70 FPS 4:3 SD Video

320x240 @ 120 FPS High-Speed Video

320x112 @ 200 FPS High-Speed Video

High-Resolution Priority Mode (EXR-HR)

12 Megapixels maximum resolution

ISO 100-3200 standard sensitivity range

ISO 6400 @ 6 MP with 100% dynamic range

ISO 12800 @ 3 MP with 100% dynamic range

Automatic and manual dynamic range, 100-400%

Automatic ISO up to 400-3200

Manual ISO up to 12800

Dynamic-Range Priority Mode (EXR-HR)

6 Megapixels maximum resolution

Automatic ISO up to 3200

Automatic dynamic range up to 1600%

Manual dynamic range up to 1600%

Automatic Exposure Only

Flash Disabled

Low-Noise Priority Mode (EXR-HR)

6 Megapixels maximum resolution

ISO 100-3200 sensitivity range

Fixed 100% Dynamic Range

Automatic or manual ISO up to 3200

Lens

Fujinon 28 - 112mm equivalent lens

Bright F/2 - 2.8 maximum aperture

F/2 - 11 Aperture range, 1/3 EV stops

Optical Image Stabilization

Mechnical Zoom

1cm Minimum focus distance at 28mm

50cm Minimum focus distance at 112mm

Exposure

PASM Exposure modes

1/4000s - 30s Shutter-speed

Exposure-Compensation, ±2 EV, 1/3 EV steps

Flash-Compensation, -2/3...+2/3, 1/3 EV steps

Multi-Segment, Spot & Average metering

AEB, 3 Frames, ±1 EV, 1/3 steps

ISO Bracketing, ±1 EV, 1/3 steps

Film Simulation Bracketing

Dynamic Range Bracketing

Fixed 1/3 EV exposure steps

Focus & Drive

49-Area Contrast-Detect autofocus, 5 Sizes

Auto or Single or Tracking focus-point selection

Single-Shot, Continuous or Manual Focus

7 FPS Drive, Max 16 JPEG or 8 RAW

10 FPS Drive at 6 MP, Max 200 JPEG

Motion Panorama, 360°, 180° & 120°

2s & 10s Self-Timers

Optional AF-Assist lamp

Images Parameters

Automatic, Preset, Kelvin and Custom WB

WB fine-tuning, 19-steps along 2-axis

Film Simulation: Provia, Velvia, Astia, B&W

Adjustable color-saturation, 5 steps

Adjustable sharpness, 5 steps

Adjustable highlight-tone, 5 steps

Adjustable shadow-tone, 5 steps

Adjustable noise-reduction, 5 steps

Viewfinder & Displays

Optical Tunnel Viewfinder, 85% Coverage

2.8" LCD, 460K Pixels, 100% coverage

Digital-Level, Tilt axis only

Body & Construction

Dual Control-Dials

Direct Exposure-Compensation dial

Combined configurable AE-L/AF-L button

Customizable Function button

Solid magnesium body

Metal tripod mount

Built-in flash, 7m (W) - 5m (T) reach

Hot-Shoe for external lighting

Wired remote terminal

1080i HDMI output

USB 2.0 connectivity

SDXC memory card slot

Proprietary Lithium-Ion battery

Note While the X10 resembles externally to the Fuji Finepix X100, it is a completely different camera for all intents and purposes. No parts of this review are shared with the X100 review.

Suitability - What is it good for?

The Fuji Finepix X10 is designed for photographers who require efficient photographic controls yet its automatic are equally usable for beginners. Its dual control-dials and numerous external buttons ensure quick operation and reduce reliance on the menu system.

This digital camera is unique among compacts in that it is the only one ever to be fitted with a mechanical zoom. Unlike electronic zooms found on all other small cameras, a mechanical zoom gives infinite precision to frame subjects. It always responds immediately and completely silently since zooming is done by hand. DSLR lenses and most SLD ones work this way.

With a maximum resolution of 12 megapixels, the X10 can capture images suitable for common prints sizes without any difficulty. The focal range of 28 - 112mm is suitable for general subjects from travel to portraits. The wide-angle end is sufficient for indoor events but not so much for architecture. Considering how bright the lens is, a relatively short telephoto end is normal.

The bright F/2 maximum aperture, which only drops down to F/2.8 at the telephoto end, lets the Fuji Finepix X10 shoot in lower light than most compacts. Combined with a wide ISO range, the X10 becomes one of the most suitable compacts for social and indoor photography. Built-in stabilization lets it capture still subjects in even lower light.

The Fuji X10 has a 1/4000 to 30s shutter-speed range which is suitable for both action and night photography. The maximum duration lets it capture light trails at night and typical city lighting. The catch is that each stop of ISO above 100 reduces the slowest shutter speed by one stop. This means that higher sensitivities do not allow this camera to capture more light.

Outdoors, the X10 is extremely suitable too. This particularly true in bright light where most cameras struggle. At 12 megapixels, it can capture up to 2 stops more dynamic range than cameras with traditional sensors. Using the 6 megapixels EXR-DR mode, 4 extra stops of dynamic-range can be captured, something only matched by other Fuji EXR CMOS sensors.

Creativity options are plentyful with this camera. In additional to the full set of manual controls, the X10 provides a choice of three metering patterns plus bracketing for exposure, ISO, Dynamic Range and Film-Simulation. A number of image parameters provide this Fuji with good control over the rendition of images. For the ultimate control over output, the Fuji X10 can also capture RAW data which needs to be transformed into an image by computer later.

There are three Advanced Modes: Pro Low Light, Pro Focus and Motion Panorama. These are multishot modes which take advantage of the high-speed CMOS sensor to create interesting composites. Pro Low Light works by capturing a series of 4 images and blending them into a resulting image with low noise. Pro Focus captures 2 consecutive images and blends them together to simulate a shalow depth-of-field. Despite having a bright F/2 maximum aperture, depth-of-field is otherwise never very shallow because the X10 has a relatively small sensor.

Motion Panorama captures a series of images, taken in any direction and covering a field of view between 120° and 360°, to merge them into a panorama photo. This gives a quick way to obtain a sweeping view of a scene without resorting to a computer. Motion Panorama produces an image of relatively low resolution but suitable for web use and online sharing. This mostly works for still and relatively flat subjects without many foreground elements. Since a fast shutter-speed is required to capture images without blur during the sweep, it is only possible to do this in bright light.

This advanced camera can handle any type of lighting conditions thanks to its custom, Kelvin and preset white-balance settings. It also has a built-in flash and hot-shoe to add its own lighting when desired. Keep in mind that the X10 is lighter than most add-on flashes which would cause it to be unbalanced. It would be preferable to use to hot-shoe for a wireless trigger which would command off-camera flashes.